With the death of
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Saturday, the question of appointments has moved to the forefront.
Republican front-runner Donald Trump has been asked that question at various times in his campaign and, and
LawNewz.com compiled some of them.
Most controversial among conservatives is Trump's assertion that he would love to appoint his sister, federal Circuit Judge Maryanne Trump Barry. Barry was named to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 1999 by President Bill Clinton, and she was part of a 2000 decision that New Jersey's ban on late-term abortions was "unconstitutionally vague and "unduly burdened a woman's constitutional right to obtain an abortion."
But Trump told
The Washington Post in October his sister would not be interested in the job.
Trump told ABC’s George Stephanopoulus in January that President George W. Bush's appointment of Chief Justice John Roberts "turned out to be a nightmare for conservatives. But he wouldn't be pinned down on exactly what he would do to avoid such a scenario.
"I'm going to appoint people that have great reputation that are great within the legal profession," Trump said.
Also in January, he told Fox News he would "strongly consider" naming justices who would overturn same-sex marriage.
"They have ruled on it. I wish it was done by the states," Trump said.
In December, Trump called Clarence Thomas his favorite justice, saying he is "very strong and consistent." He also called Roberts "disgraceful" and a "disappointment" to conservatives at that time.
Roberts was a key vote in upholding the Affordable Care Act twice.
Trump's most recent comment on the high court came in relation to Scalia's death, which he called a setback for the conservative movement.
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